Carnforth to return ‘Lizzie’ to the main line

THE 6201 Society’s Stanier Pacific No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth was back on the network on February 22, albeit diesel hauled when transferred to the West Coast Railway Company’s Carnforth works.

Since being withdrawn from the main line in November 2016 with weeping small boiler tubes, Princess Elizabeth has been at the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust’s (PRCLT) West Shed at the Midland Railway-Butterley, awaiting the replacement of its small tubes by PRCLT.

Stanier ‘8P’ No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth is top-and-tailed by WCRC’s Class 37s Nos. 37669 and 37668 through Toton as it makes its way from the Midland Railway-Butterley to Carnforth on February 22. JOHN STORER

However, the premature withdrawal of PRCLT’s flagship LMS Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland in the autumn, and the subsequent decision to carry out a major repair programme on the loco, has seen ‘Lizzie’ slip down the queue.

“With no prospect of PRCLT being able to carry out any work on No. 6201 until at least July, the loco has been moved to Carnforth to be returned to main line operation,” 6201 Society chairman Clive Mojonnier told The RM.

“The board decided this was in the best interests of the locomotive.”

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